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Thursday, 13 December 2012

MISA CHAIR BACKS MISOGYNIST WRITER

Alec Lushaba, the chair of the Media Institute for
Southern Africa (MISA) in Swaziland, has written in support of the Times Sunday
journalist who called battered women ‘bitches’ and said they only had themselves
to blame when they were attacked.

Qalakaliboli Dlamini was criticised by a host of human rights
groups in Swaziland after he wrote that ‘most’ women who were victims of
violence brought it upon themselves. He also said women were to blame for
turning men violent.

Dlamini wrote in his column this week (9 December 2012)
that women were ‘culprits’ not ‘victims’. He said, ‘Women have carved
themselves as the victims of this world and they are demanding even more than they
deserve.’

He added, ‘Women find comfort in portraying themselves as
victims.’ He said that women who walked out on abusing men were ‘bitches.’

At least six NGOs in Swaziland, including Swaziland
Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA), Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic
Organizations, and the Coordinating Assembly for Non-Governmental Organisations
(CANGO) have complained to the Times about the article, saying ‘The article
incites hatred, and breaches human rights, journalistic ethics and good taste.’

But, Lushaba, writing on his Facebook page, defended Dlamini's
article, saying, ‘It is wrong of us to suffocate such opinions.’

He went on, ‘As freedom of expression activists we must
defend the right of an individual to express his view.’

MISA says it plays a ‘leading role in creating an
environment of media freedom and free expression that promotes independence,
pluralism and diversity of views and opinions, media sustainability, competency
and professionalism in the southern African region.’

According to its website it states, ‘In dealing with
these elements, MISA will ensure that gender-specific needs form an integral
part of all its activities.’